We like Mike!

Reporter/Mike Brown Rockdale volunteer firefighters Mike Korenek (left) is all smiles as he heads to the podium Saturday in the KC Hall to receive his 35-year pin, plus a rousing standing ovation, at the combined Officer-of-the-Year/Firefighter-of-the-Year banquet. Korenek is a former RVFD chief, was firefighter-of-theyear in 1983 and is an organizer for the department’s annual fund raiser. His award was presented by Fire Chief Ward Roddam who praised Korenek as a mentor and said as a youth he remembered Korenek rushing to many a fire call in “that old green pickup truck.” (See story, photos, page 1B.)